On the last night of our tour, we were taken to Brockfield Hall, Warthill, York, England for a “Be My Guest” English dinner.  It was a chance for us to rub elbows and have dinner with almost royalty in an stately English home.

The bus couldn’t go up the narrow lane to the home. I know I have shown you this picture before, but it was like a fairytale setting with the canopy of trees.

It was a little hike.  I don’t think any of us looked like we were going to dinner with almost royalty.

The flowers along the path were beautiful.

This is Brockfield Hall – Not Downton Abbey, but still okay.

Clare and Simon Wood are the present owners of Brockfield Hall.  Mrs. Wood inherited the home from her parents – Lord and Lady Martin Fitzalan Howard in 2003.  I do not think Clare and Simon Wood have titles.  They open their home to tour buses to help pay for the upkeep of Brockfield Hall.  “It is very expensive to maintain all this,” Mrs. Wood said to me.  She also mentioned that she is looking forward to the time she can give the home to her son and move to The Farmhouse.

Brockfield Hall is late Georgian architecture.

This is a picture and information from their website.

Welcome to Brockfield Hall…

An introduction to Brockfield Hall

Brockfield Hall is a fine late Georgian house designed by Peter Atkinson, assistant to John Carr of York, for Benjamin Agar Esq. Begun in 1804, its outstanding feature is an oval entrance hall with a cantilevered stone staircase curving past an impressive Venetian window. It is the family home of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Wood. Mrs. Wood is the daughter of the late Lord and of Lady Martin Fitzalan Howard.

He was the brother of the 17th. Duke of Norfolk and son of the late Baroness Beaumont of Carlton Towers near Selby.

There are some interesting portraits of her old Roman Catholic family, the Stapletons, and some good English furniture.

I have a confession to make.  We were not suppose to take pictures.  I really did not know.  Blame it on my bad hearing.  I was busy snapping pictures, when another guest politely told me the rule.  Oh my.  I didn’t take many, and the Woods did not say anything to me, so I will share what I have.  The entry is oval (oval rooms are a big deal) and has a beautiful staircase.  There are old painting of ancestors.  Notice the niche and the ornate molding.

This is a portrait of Lord Martin.

The smaller oval portraits were lovely.  I liked then.  I loved them.

A quartet of canapés were served as appetizers.  I thought these were good – very tasty.

The appetizers included Filo Basket with prawns, Pea and mint croustade (The English do like mushy minty peas.), Semoked salmon and cream cheese square, and Olive oil crostini with pate.

Be still my heart.  I do like her china.

Then I had to stop taking pictures. – Bummer!

The main Course was:  Chicken breast with tarragon sauce, Spring new potatoes, and Green garden salad and tomatoes.  Maybe I would give the main course three stars.  It wasn’t bad, but it could have been better.  Maybe this is the bland English food I have heard about.

A dessert of Clare’s Chocolate Gateau with a garnish of Kiwi and Clementine was okay.  It might have been made with a box mix.  Mind you, there is nothing wrong with a box mix, but just giving my impressions.  Others said the wines were good.

Clare and Simon Wood were gracious host.  Mrs. Wood was delightful.  He was a bit more reserved.  She did mention that her parents sent her to America hoping she would not marry Mr. Wood. – “It didn’t work.”

How wonderful it was to be guest in a “Country Home”.  I loved the home tour.  The home is open for tours during the month of August.  In September they have a selling exhibition of Staithes Group paintings.  All these activities are to help maintain Brockfield Hall.

Blessings to you and yours,